Part 0800.0005

[williamspencer98]

Hello,

 

I've measured up and I'm going to build a walk-in run, that measures 7 sq m, 7m long 1m wide, it'll be quite long and skinny, but will it house 6 LF hens? I'm going to buy a chicken house that houses 8 LF so will it be OK?

[chick wiggle]

To be honest its more the size of the run that matters more than the house, as they will all squish up together on a night anyway and your run sounds fine for 6 LF

Look forward to seeing some piccies

[Melbourne12]

I think it depends how much free range time they'll be getting. Just over 1 sq m per bird is perhaps a bit tight if they're going to be confined to the run most of the time. Remember that the feeder and drinker will take up space, and may be difficult to access for the birds that are lower in the pecking order in such a narrow run.

[Redwing]

You'd just about get away with it but the shape makes things very awkward as Melbourne pointed out

 

If you are putting a coop in that space too then think of the design, a raised coop would mean you dont lose floor space for example

[sparkysmum]

I really don't want to upset your plans here but I really feel that a run of this size is just too small for 6 large birds unless they will be free ranging for the majority of the day. In a run which is only a metre wide they will have very little room to turn around/ get out of each others way if need be. It is when hens are confined that behavioural problems occur - pecking, bullying etc. I know that you are doing your best to sort out the best for your hens in advance but what they really need is space to do chickeny things. If your hens are going to be confined in a smallish run for much of the day, I would suggest only a couple of hens/bantams would be suitable.

 

Sorry.

[kissinuk]

If your hens are going to be confined in a smallish run for much of the day, I would suggest only a couple of hens/bantams would be suitable.

 

Sorry.

 

2 bantams?? The Eglu Classic run is only around 2x1m and that's big enough for 2 hens, I think you'd get away with more than 2 bantams in a 7x1!! I would suggest 6 bantams or 4 standard sized hybrids or 3 large fowl (and a partridge in a pear tree..).

[sparkysmum]

I was using the term "couple " loosely and of course a 7m x 1m run can accommodate more than two bantams. However my point that 6 lf hens will display anti social behaviour traits, if confined to a smallish run for long periods of time, is still valid.

[Patricia W]

I agree that you need to go for more than the minimum and 6 is really pushing it.

 

I started with 3 bantams in a standard eglu run and at first was nervous about free ranging so they were confined. The inevitable result was behaviour problems - serious pecking. Once I plucked up courage to free range them most of the day, then these disappeared.

 

Don't forget if you add perches etc you do increase the use of the vertical space which helps - but if you want happy hens, either increase the size or decrease the number.

[Plum]

7 metres is a looong run even if not wide. I'd put perches across so they can leap up out of the way and maybe shelves along for the same reason. Not so easy to duck past eachother with 1 metre width but reckon that would sort it

[Redwing]

When you think about it the space is not much different to a 7m cube train and considering that people keep 6 chickens in a 2m run sometimes (not recommended) I think a 7m run though not massively spacious should be fine